Machine for setting up cartons



M. BURGER MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS July 26, 1932. Re. 18,547

Original Filed Sept. 28, 1928 5 sheet s-Sheet M. BURGER MACHINE FORSETTING UP CARTONS July 26, 1932.

Original Filed Sept. 28, 1928 5 sheets sheet iIFi iii M. BURGER MACHINEFOR SETTING UP CARTONS Re. 18,547 Original Filed Sept. 28, 1928 July 26,1932.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. BURGER July 26, 1932. MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONSRe. 18,547

Original Filed Sept. 28, 1928 5 sheets-Sheet 4 M. BURGER July 26, 1932.MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Re. 18,547

ts-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 28. 1928 5 Shea Reissued July 26, 1932UNITED STATES MARTIN BURGER, OF MORRIS, ILLI IINOIS MACHINE FOR BETTIN GUP CARTONS Original No. 1,788,034, dated December 8, 1928, Serial No.308,968, died September 28, 1928. Application for reissue filed November25,

The present invention relates to a machine for setting up egg cartons,and has particular reference to a machine by which egg cartons in theform of stamped blanks may be set up to form a rigid container.

A type of egg carton which has met with considerable commercial successcomprises a unitary wall structure having collapsed transversepartitions which may be integral with is the wall structure or body ofthe carton, these partitions being adapted to be rotated or otherwisemoved into erect positions and secured to other portions of the cartonto maintain their position. In a preferred modification, the lowerportion of the wall structure is pressed upwardly to form a longitudinalpartition through the carton. Cartons of this type are delivered to theuser in a collapsed or flattened condition, the wall structure beingflattened out and the transverse partitions lying fiat u on the same.

A primary object o the present invention is to provide a simple machinefor facilitating the erection or setting up into useable form of acarton of the type described heretofore, that is, collapsible cartons ofthe type having cell-forming cross partitions adapted to be moved intoerect position therein.

An additionalobject is to provide a de- 80 rice for maintaining thetransverse partitions in a predetermined Josition and for bringing thewall structure 0 the carton into interlocking relation thereto.

Still another object is to provide means for 5 aligning the transversepartitionswith inter locking portions on the wall structure.

These and other objects of the invention will be seen from thefollowingillustrative description of the invention and b reference tothe accompanying drawings, W erein:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a machine embodying the present invention, inits normal open position;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the collapsed carton, on a reduced scale;

Figure 3 is an edge view of the collapsed carton, the thickness of thematerial "of which the carton is made being exaggerated;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the machine, opened and having thereon acollapsed car- 1931. Serial No. 577,372.

ton, but only part of the carton being shown;

Fiinires 5 and 6 are sections taken approxi. mate y on line 5-6 ofFigure 4, showing the parts of the machine in tions;

Figures 7 and 8 are transverse sections through Figures 5 and 6,respectively;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures 7 and 8, illustrating the finalpositions of the parts in the setting up of the carton;

Figure 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 8, showing only afragment of the machine and carton; and

Figure 11 is a section taken on line 1111 of Figure 9 and illustratingthe same parts as in Figure 10.

While it is obvious that my invention is applicable to the erection orsetting-up of collapsible egg cartons in general, for purposes ofillustration and explanation it will be described with reference to aparticular type of egg carton that has met With general favor in theart, which carton may be made of a single piece, as shown in thedrawings, comprising a bottom section A, two side wall sections B and C,a cover section D and a false top divided into a series of transversesections E, each integrally united with or secured to the two sidesections at one end, so that it may be swung down into a verticalposition when the carton is set up.

In the bottom of the carton are transverse slots F through which thehook-shaped lower ends e of the flaps may be pressed so as to beinterlocked with the bottom of the carton. Each of the transversepartition elements has two of the hook-shaped portions, one on each sideof the longitudinal center of the carton.

The bottom wall of the carton is scored along the longitudinal centerline, as indicated at a, so that it may be folded along the center linein setting up the carton.

The carton is delivered to the user in the flattened conditionillustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Upon pressing up what are the diagonallyopposite long edges of the carton when set up, namel at the points g andh in Figure 3, the body of thecarton may be opened up or distended intothe form of a tube of rectangular cross-section; the trans- BO twodifferent posiverse partition elements or fla s at this time lying atthe top end parallel with the bottom which is still in a flattenedcondition. After the carton has been opened as just described the bottommust be pressed up so as to in the form of an inverted V incross-section, and the transverse partitions must be positioned andinterlocked with the bottom. It is the purpose of my improved machine toperform these functions.

The machine comprises a suitable frame 1 which may be longitudinallyextending and open at the top, the width of the frame erng approximatelyequal to the wldth of the carton, and the length being somewhat greaterthan the length of the carton. What may be termed the rear wall or side2 of the frame extends a considerable distance above the front wall orside 3. There is a stop 4 on the inner side of the rear wall near oneend. The carton is to be set up, preferably after it has been opened ordistended, as heretofore explaine is laid on the frame, upside down,with the rear side wall of the carton resting against the rear wall ofthe frame, and one end of the carton engaged with the stop; the cartonbeing thus accurately lo-. cated or positioned with respect to theframe.

Mounted within the opening in the frame are a series of pairs ofgrippers so disposed that they may be operated to engage with thetransverse partition elements of the 'carton and swing them into uprightpositions; the grippers of each pair lying on opposite sides of thecorresponding partition element and clamping the latter between the sameso as to hold it accurately in a predetermined vertical osition, namelyin a position such that the ooks thereon are aligned with and registerwith the corresponding slots in the bottom wall of the carton. Means areprovided for then pressing down the bottom of the carton in a planeparallel with the plane of the partitions and along the longitudinalcenter line, so as to force it into engagement with the hooks.

The grippers in the arrangement shown consist of a series of plates orwings 6 having shafts or trunnions 7 extending between and at rightangles to the front and rear walls of the frame, together with a secondseries of wings or plates 8 also rovided with shafts or trunnions 9extending between and at right angles to the front and rear sides of theframe. The elements 6 may be simple flat plates radiating from theirpivotal axis.- In order to prevent interference between the element 8 ofone pair of grippers and the element 6 of the next pair, the elements 8are bent so as to be L-shaped. Therefore, the pivotal axis of each ofthe elements 8 may be displaced toward one side and below the pivotaaxis of the cooperating gripping element. The parts are so disposed thateach gripping element 8 extends downwardly and "laterally underneath thepivotal angle of the oorrwponding gripper element 6," and then u wardlypast such pivotal axis on the far srde of the latter. Normally, when themachine is not in use, the plates 6 are all inclined in one directionand to the same extent, whereas the free arms or flanges of the elements8 are inclined in the opposite directions.

However, when the upper gripper elements are swung in the clockwisedirection, as viewed in Figure 5, and the lower gripper elements areswung in the counterclockwise direction, the elements 6 may be broughtinto vertical positions with the free arms or flanges, or at least theends of the latter, lying) parallel therewith as shown in Fig ure Thegripper elements being in the ositions shown in Figure 5 and the inverteopened carton being pressed down on the same, it will be seen that thefree ends of the transverse partitions or fiapsE strike the gripperelements 6 and are partially swung u by the latter. When the carton ispressed own as far as it will go, it is brought to rest on the top of arail 10 at the rear of the frame and on top of the front wall or rail 3;one side of the carton being engaged with the rear wall or bar 2 and oneend with the stop 4. If new the gripper elements are swung up asheretofore explained, the elements 6 will gradually swing the flaps orpartitions in the carton into vertical positions, whereas the free endsof the gripper elements 8 will swing over and engage with the oppositesides of the flaps or partitions. The result is that the flaps orpartitions will be posi tively held in vertical or erect positions asindicated in Figures 6, 8 and 10 namely in registration with the slots Fin the bottom of the carton.

After the flaps have been swung up and are held in upright positions along knife blade 12 may be pressed down along the longitudinal center ofthe bottom, forcing the bottom into a trough-shape as best shown inFigure 9. As the bottom of the carton is depressed and deformed, thehooked ends 0 on the transverse partitions pass through the slots F, sothat the free ends of the transverse partitions become interlocked withthe bottom of the carton.

In order to permit the bottom of the carton to be pressed down into atrough shape, the central portions of the gripping plates are cut awayat the top to form therein deep V-shaped notches 14, the open sides ofwhich are almost as long as the width of the plates.

The partition engaging elements and the movable blade may be actuated inany suitable manner. In t e arrangement shown, the shafts or trunnionsfor the griprper elements project at the rear side of the ame and thepro ecting end of each is provided with a radial arm fixed thereto. Thearms connected with the upper shafts or trunnions 7 are indicated at 15and those associated with the lower set of shafts or trunnions areindicated at 16. The arms 15 are all parallel with each other as arealso the arms 16. The arms 15 are connected together by a suitableconnecting rod 17, and a second connecting rod 18 extends between thefree ends of the arm 16. The connecting rod 17 has an arm 19 extendingdownwardly from one end thereof past the rod 18. A pin 20 on the rod 18projects into a vertical slot 21 in the arm 19. Consequently if one ofthe connecting rods is reciprocated in the direction of its length, theother will be given correspondin movements. One of the arms 7 isprovided with an upward extension 22. On the part 22 is a roller 23thatextends into a cam groove 24 in a cam block 25 on the rear side of themachine. The cam block is fixed on a horizontal shaft 26 extendingparallel with the longitudinal axis of the machine on the rear side ofthe latter. The shaft 26 is supported in suitable brackets 27 projectingrearwardly from the frame, or otherwise. An operating lever or handle 28isv fixed to and extends radially from one end of the shaft 26. Theshaft 26 has thereon two arms 29, 29, each lying in a plane at rightangles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and being of Usshape. Theblade 12 extends between and is fixed to the outer ends of the arms 29.

The cam groove 24 has an initial diagonal section and a final sectionwhose long axis is in a plane at right angles to the long axis of theshaft 26. When the machine is open as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 7, thecam roller lies in that end of the inclined section of the cam grooveremote from the final or terminal section. Consequently when theoperating lever or handle 28 is swung up, the first result will be theshifting of the connecting rods 17 and 18 toward the left as viewed inFig. 1 and toward the right as viewed in Fig.

4. In other words, the partition raisers and grippers will be swung fromthe positions shown in Fig. 5 to those shown in Fi 6. Then, when the camroller enters the straight portion of the cam groove, no furthermovement of the connecting rods can take place but they and the gripperelements are locked against displacement and the transverse partitionsare positively held in u right ositions. However, the blade 12 1spermitted to swing down as the cam roller travels through the straightportion of the cam groove, into the position illustrated in Fig. 9. Inother words, normally the operating lever or handle is horizontal asshown in Fig. 7. so that the carton may be placed in position on themachine. Then, when the handle is swung up into about the osition inFig. 8, the transverse partitions ave been raised and definitelypositioned in registration with the slots F in the bottom of the carton.As the swinging movement of the handle continues, the blade 12 descendsand presses the longitudinal center of the bottom of the carton downuntil the condition illustrated in Fig. 9 is reached. Then, when thehandle is again swung back into the position illustrated in Fig. 7, notonly is the blade 12 moved out o the way, but the rippers are againopened and the carton, ully set up, may be lifted from the machine; themachine being then ready to receive another carton. Either or both ofthe gripping elements of each pair may be made more or less resilient soas to insure a firm grip on the transverse partitions of the carton.Because of the greater length of the bent gripper elements,

there will ordinarily be enough resiliency in the latter to permit thecooperating gripper elements to be made comparatively stiff and thusinsure the accurate positioning of the partitions when the grippers areclosed.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a'singlepreferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to theexact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend tocover all forms and arran ements which come within the definitions o myinvention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a series of pairs ofgrippers, means for supporting the gri pers to permit those of each pairto move etween a position in which 1 they converge from the upper endsdownwardly and a position in which they stand vertical in proximity toeach other, and means for moving the grippers between said positions.

2. In a machine for setting up an egg carton having collapsed transversepartitions, positioning means for said carton, a series of platespivotally mounted at their lower portion to said positioning means,means forv 1 rotating said plates about their pivoted portion to movesaid collapsed partitions into erect position, a longitudinal bladeextending across said plates, and means for moving said blade to andfrom a position adjacent said plates.

3. In a machine for setting up an egg carton having collapsedpartitions, a frame provided with positioning means for said egg carton,a series of upright plates mounted 199 transversely of said positioningmeans, rotatable plates pivotally mounted adjacent the bases of saidupright plates, means for rotating said plates about their-pivotedportion to move said collapsed partitions into erect position and inengagement between said upright plates and said rotatable plates, andmeans for depressing the wall structure of said carton above said platesdownwardly along its longitudinal center line.

4. In a machine of the character described, a frame open at the top,said frame having elements to support a carton inverted thereon andaccurately position it lengthwise of the frame, a series of pairs of griping jaws extending transversely across t e frame and mounted thereon soas to be movable between positions in which the jaws of each pair standclose to other and upright and positions in which t e jaws are s readapart at the top, a blade adapted to pressed down along the longitudinalcenter of a carton resting on the frame, and means for moving the jawsinto their closed positions and subsequently forcing the blade downtoward the same.

5. In a machine for setting up an egg carton having collapsedpartitions, positioning means for said carton, a series of platespivotally mounted at their lower portion transversely of saidpositioning means, said plates being cut away in their middle portion toform a central lon itudinal opening, means for rotating said p atesabout their pivoted portion to move said collapsed partitions into erectposition, a blade extending longitudinally along said positioning means,and reversible means for movin said blade downwardly into saidlongitudinal opening.

6. In a machine of the character described, a frame open at the top,devices arranged within the frame and distributed along the same toengage transverse partitions of a collapsed carton overlying the frameand set them in vertical positions, a blade extending across all of saiddevices, means for moving said blade between an idle position and apocollapsed partitions,

sition in proximit to said devices, and means for operating sai devicesand said blade.

7. In a machine of the character described, a frame open at the top andadapted to support a collapsed carton having transverse partitionsadapted to project at their free ends into the space within the frame,and means within the frame for gripping said flaps and setting them inupright positions.

8. In a device of the character described, supporting means for an eggcarton having means or erecting sai collapsed partitions, and means forcausing engagement of interlocking portions of the erected partitionsand said carton to form a rigid container.

9. In a device of the character described, supporting means for an eggcarton having collapsed partitions pivoted to one portion of saidcarton, means for causing rotation of said collapsed partitions aboutsaid pivoted portion into erect position, and means for moving a secondportion of said carton into engagement with said erect partitions.

10. In a device of the character described, positioning means for an eggcarton having collapsed partitions, means for rotating said partitionsinto erect position, and means for rotating portions of said carton oneach side of the central portion of said partitions into contacttherewith to engage interlocking por-' tions on said partitions and saidcarton.

11. In a device for setting up an egg carton having collapsedpartitions, positioning means for said carton, and means for moving saidpartitions into planes substantially perpendicular to the walls of saidcarton and or aligning said partitions with interlocking portions onsaid walls.

12. In a device for settingup an egg carton having movable partitionsand a unitary wall structure positioning means for said carton, means ormoving said partitions into planes perpendicular to said wall structureand for aligning said artitions with interlocking portions on said wallstructure, and means for bringing the interlocking portions of said wallstructure into engagement with said interlocking portions on saidpartitions to form a rigid container.

13. In a device for setting up an egg carton having movable partitions,an operating means, means responsive to said operating means for movingsaid partitions into erect position, and a second means responsive tosaid operating means for causing engagement of the wall structure ofsaid carton with said partitions to form a rigid container.

14. In a device for settin up an egg carton having collapsed partitions,positionin means for said carton, means provided witfi an open centerfor moving said collapsed partitions into a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the walls of said carton, and means movable into andout of the open center of said last named means for moving said cartonwalls into engagement with said partitions.

15. In a device for setting up an egg carton having collapsedpartitions, positionin means for said carton, means for moving saidpartitions into erect position, and means for moving interlockinportions on said parti tions and on the wa is of said carton intoongagement to form a rigid container.

16. In a device for setting up an egg carton having collapsed partitionsand a unitary wall structure, positioning means for said carton, meansfor holding said partitions in erect position, and. means for movingsaid partitions and the wall structure of said carton into engagement toform a rigid container.

17. In a device for setting up an egg carton having collapsed crosspartitions, supporting means for said carton, means for engaging saidpartitions and for rotating the same into positions at right angles tothe wall structure duce a ridge cooperating with movable transversepartitions to form two rows of cells, means for supporting said carton,means for shifting said partitions into positions at right angles to thewall structure of said carton, and means for folding the bottom of thecarton at the center and for inserting said fold into openings in saidpartitions.

19. In a machine for setting up an egg carton having collapsedpartitions and a unitary wall structure, a frame for supporting said Imem carton in inverted position thereon, means on said frame forrotating the collapsed partitions into erect position, said means havingan o ening along the center thereof, a knife lier extendinglongitudinally of said frame and above said last named means, and meansfor moving said knife into and out of the longitudinal opening in saidlast named means, whereby the bottom of said carton is depressed intoengagement with said partitions to form a rig1d container.

20. In a device for setting up an egg carton having collapsedpartitlons, pos1tioning means for said carton, a lever, means responsiveto partial movement of said lever for engaging said partitions androtating the same to erect position, said means having a longitudinalopening through the center thereof, a knife bar mounted adjacent andspaced from the longitudinal opening in said last named a means, meansresponsive'to further movement of said lever for moving said knife barinto said longitudinal opening, and resilient means for returning saidlever to its original position. I

21. In a device for setting up eg cartons having cross partitionsprovided wit notches and a resilient wall structure having openingsadapted to interlock with said notches, supporting means for saidcarton, and means engaging said resilient wall structure for forcing thesame into such position that said opentransverse plates pivotally ingsregister with said notches, and for releasing said wall structure whenin said position.

22. In a device for setting up collapsible e g cartons having pivotedcross partitions, a ongitudinally extending frame, a series of attachedto said frame and rotatable into erect position, a bar connecting saidplates, and means for imparting reciprocal motion to said bar to movesaid plates.

23. A device for setting up collapsible cartons having movable crosspartitlons, comprising a longitudinal frame, and a series of spacedpartition engaging elements positioned on said frame, said partitionengaging elements extending transversely of said frame and beingoperable to move cross partitions on said cartons from a collapsedposition into an erect osition substantially perpendicular to the ody ofthe carton.

24. A device for setting up collapsible cartons having movable crosspartitions, comprising a longitudinally extending frame, a series ofspaced partition engaging elements extending transversely with respectto said frame, and means for producing relative movement between saidelements and said frame whereby to move cross partitions on said cartonsinto erect position. 7

25. A device for setting u collapsible cartons of the type havingcellrming partitions, com rising a longitudinally extending frameincluding means upon which a distended carton may be positioned and apartition engaging element movable with respect to said frame and oerable to position an erected artition wit in a distended carton on saidrame.

26. A device for setting u collapsible cartons of the type havingcellorming cross artitions, which comprises. a frame including means forpositioning one of said cartons, a plurality of spaced movable platespositioned onsaid frame, and a single operating means for causingmovement of said plates, whereby cross partitions on said carton aremoved into an erect position.

27. A device forv erectin' a collapsible carton of the type having ce-formin cross partitions, comprising a longitudinal. extending frameincluding means for positioning one of said cartons, means for movincross partitions into erect position in sai carton, a lever, and meansresponsive to movement of said lever for actuating said cross partitionmoving means.

'28. A device for setting up collapsible cartons having movable crosspartitions, cemprising'a frame, a series of partition engaging elements,and means for producing relative movement between a carton POSI- tionedon said device and saidpartition enga 'ng elements, whereby to movecross partitlons on said carton into erect position.

29. A device for setting up collapsible cartons having movable crosspartitions, comprising a longitudinally extending frame, centrallyspaced partition en agin elements extending transversely o sai frame,actuating means, and means responsive to said actuating means forproducing relative motion between a carton on said device and saidpartition engaging means whereby to move cross partitions on sai cartoninto erect position.

30. In a device for setting up collapsible cartons of the type havingcross partitions. a longitudinally extending frame, and a series ofupwardly extending partition engaging elements on said frame 1npositions corresponding to the position of the cross partitions on saidcartons, whereby said cross partitions are rotated toward erect positionwhen a carton is placed on said device.

31. In a device for setting up collapsible cartons of the type having alongitudinal partition and a series of cell-forming cross partitions, alosgitudinall'y extending frame, and two series of partition engagingelements on said frame 1n tpositions corresponding to the positions of ecross partitions on said cartons, whereby said cross partitions arerotated toward erect position when a carton is placed on said device,said two series of partition engaging elements being transversely spacedto provide an opening for thelongitudinal partitions on sald cartons.

82; In a device for erecting collapsible cartons of the type havinglunged cross partitions, a longltudinall extending frame, and a seriesof upwar y extending plates movably mounted to said frame in positionscorres ending to the positions of the cross partitions on said cartonsand a single means or moving said plates re ative 'to said frame wherebyto rotate said hinged'cross partitions into erect position.

33. A device for settin up egg cartons of the t e having hinge crosspartitions a longitu 'nally extending base, a series 0 partitionengaging elements positioned on said base, a ever, and means responsiveto actuation of saidv lever for producin relative movement between acarton positioned on said device and said partition engaging elements,whereby said hinged cross partitions are rotated into erect osition.

In testimony whereof, have hereunto subscribed my name.

MARTIN BURGER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Reissue No. 18,547. July 26, 1932.

MARTIN BURGER.

it is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneouslyissued to the inventor said "Burger". whereas said patent should havebeen issued to "Self-"Locking Carton 00., a corporation of Illinois", asassignee of the entire interest in said invention, as shown by therecords of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patentshould he read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of December, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Conmissioner of Patents.

